It seems that for quite some time, American public opinion has looked down on France. The phrase "Brand new French Rifle Only Dropped Once" is a common one, which labels the French as a cowardly people who cannot fend for themselves. While close ties between America and France have slowly deteriorated after World War II, it seems almost customary for Americans, both conservatives and liberals, to have something to criticize France about. I remember right after the Paris attacks in November 2015 when Americans offered their sincere condolences to the French, only to return to the traditional mockeries of the country on social media. That would be like France calling America a war-mongering country just days after 9/11.
Yet as much as we love to berate the French whenever we can, we often forget, choose to ignore, or just flat out don't know just how much of Western Culture descends from the French or how much France dictated the course of American and European history altogether. This article highlights the top five scenarios in history when France dominated and showed the world that it was not some cowardly or pathetic nation. These rankings are completely subjective but are based on historical facts and events and rise in ranking with each number.
#5. French Strategy during the wars of religion
From 1550-1648, Europe experienced several devastating wars waged by the various European monarchies and nation-states over whether Catholicism or Protestantism would be the dominant Christian sect in Europe. Many European forces that fought chose sides according to the religion of their nation-state and nothing more. France was the peculiar exception to this because although its population consisted mainly of Catholics, the French always fought on the side of the Protestants.
Unlike any of the combatants, France did not let religious ideology dictate its actions; instead, its leaders analyzed the fighting in Europe as the perfect opportunity to crush rival powers and solidify France's standing in the continent. While the rest of Europe emerged from each war weakened and fatigued, France found itself as a major power unrivaled by almost every European nation, a power that would not diminish until 1815. French strategic thinking was years ahead of its time, and this foresight helped to create a powerhouse that was to be reckoned with by its enemies.
#4. France beat Hitler in conquering Europe
More than a century before Hitler's panzers raced across the European continent, French armies from 1803-1815, under the brilliant leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte, rapidly swept across Europe, crushed several major rival powers, and spread French thought and culture over its occupied lands. What makes this accomplishment truly remarkable is that fact that France only years before was engaged in a violent and tumultuous revolution that seemed ready to tear it apart. In a matter of years, France went from worst to first in European leadership. The power France now wielded during the time petrified many nations, especially the United States.
#3. France survived World War I
Other than Russia, France experienced the worst of the Great War. Not only did most of its fighting take place on French soil and take millions of French lives, the war lasted for four grueling years, and yet France refused to yield. While both Great Britain and America assisted France, the former only occupied a small portion of the Western Front compared to the burden the French military faced, and the latter was so unprepared for war that France had to supply America with nearly all of its fighting equipment. So when Americans proudly state that we "bailed" France out during World War II, if you look at how much France has burdened when compared to America, we didn't bail anyone out; instead, we paid a long-owed debt from 1777.
#2. France was the home of the Enlightenment
Often hailed as the great milestone for Western thinking, the Enlightenment resulted in the increased popularity and fostering of revolutionary political and philosophical thinking, and it owes much of its success to France. Louis XIV of France gave countless donations and allocations to brand new academies, scientific research, and rising thinkers during this time period, most notably Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau, men whose revolutionary ideas regarding ethics and politics influenced millions. Some pf these people included America's Founding Fathers, who sought to create a new nation based on the thinking of the Enlightenment. In effect, France basically gave America the form of its new government (you're welcome America).
#1. France is the reason a United States of America exists
This last one is simple, yet the most profound when concerning France and America. Despite all the lore American patriotic rhetoric grants to the American Revolution, the entire endeavor would have been in vain had France not assisted the Patriots. Simply put, the American rebels had no way of competing militarily with superpower Great Britain in a prolonged conflict. After a surprising and smashing American victory at Saratoga in 1777, France decided to help America defeat its long-time rival the next year, thus committing vast resources and equipment to the American cause. When America finally claimed victory in 1783, it was in no small part due to France.
Contrary to American opinion, history has shown France to be anything but a nation of cowards. After all, you really can't trump the fact that they helped create the land of the free and home of the brave.
